Locomotive



June 22 1926.

. 1,589,362 H. s.- BURNHAM LOCOMOTIVE Filed Nov. 24, 1925 FIG- 1..-

Patented June 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES HARRY S. BURNHAM, OF SCI-IENECTADY, NEW YORK.

LOCOMOTIVE.

Application filed November 24, 1925. Serial No. 71,205.

My invention relates to the cylinder structure of three cylinder steamlocomotives, and its object is to provide means there in, whereby waterwhich may be mingled with the incoming steam will tend to be divertedfrom the middle cylinder into one of the side cylinders, from which itmay be more readily discharged.

The improvement claimed fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawing: I Figure 1 is a front view, partly insection, through the steam inlet passages and distribution valve chestsof the cylinder saddles of a three cylinder locomotive embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a rigl'it hand side view, in elevation, of the same;and, Fig. 3, an axial section through one of the steam inlet passages,on the line III-III of Fig. 1.

The cylinder structure of my present invention corresponds, in allparticulars other than those hereinafter described, with that set forthin my co-pending application Serial No. 703,651, filed April 2, 1924. Aleading feature of the invention disclosed in said application, is asteam inlet passage, divided by a central partition wall into twobranches, leading to the distribution valve chests of the middle and theright hand cylinder, respectively.

It has been found, in practice, that, at times, water is included withthe incoming steam, and the middle cylinder, being inclined, is moredifficult to drain than the horizontal side cylinders. Moreover, damageto the middle cylinder or its associated members, resulting from thepresence of water in said cylinder, is expensive to repair, by reason ofthe comparative inaccessibility of the parts. My invention is design-edto provide a straighter passage for the steam to the outside cylinder,than to the middle cylinder, so that water that may be carried with theincoming steam will be separated from the steam when passing to themiddle cylinder, and tend to enter the passage to one of the sidecylinders, from which it can be more readily and safely discharged.

In the practice of my invention, referring descriptively to the specificembodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, the middle cylinder, 1,and the right hand side cylinder, 1, are, as heretofore, formed integralwith a right hand saddle casting, 2 and the left hand cylinder, 1lsiornie integral with an abutting left head saddle is hereinafter incasting, 2 The two saddle castings, when firmly bolted together, form abed plate, which is suitably shaped at its top to receive and supportthe smoke box of the locomotive boiler, and is adapted to be secured, atits bottom, to the frame members of the locomotive. Distribution valvechests, 3 and 3 are formed in the right hand saddle castg, 2, adjacentto the cylinders, 1 and 1", respectively, and a distribution valvechest, 3, is formed in the left hand saddle casting, 2*, adjacent to thecylinder, 1".

A steam inlet passage, 4, is formed in the right hand saddle casting, 2,adjacent to its outer side, and a steam inlet passage, 4*, is formed inthe left handsaddle casting, 2 adjacent to its outer side. The inletpassage, 4, is divided by a partition wall, 4, into two branches, 4 and4, one of which, 4", leads into the distribution valve chest, 8, of themiddle cylinder, and the other, 4, leads into the distribution valvechest, 3, of the right hand side cylinder. The steam inlet passage, 4*,of the left hand saddle casting, 2*, leads into the distribution valvechest, 3*, in the usual form.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the steam inlet passage, 4, instead of beingdivided symmetrically into the two passages by a partition wall which isin the plane of a diameter of the inlet opening of said passage, as inmy application Ser. No. 703,651 aforesaid, has, under my presentinvention, its partition wall, 4, located in a plane at one side of adiametral plane, whereby its branch, 4, which leads to the distributionvalve chest of the side cylinder, 1, is in line axially with a diametralplane of the inlet opening, and the other branch, 4", which leads to thedistribution valve chest 3 of the middle cylinder, is offset or divertedfrom a straight course between the inlet openings and the distribution.valve chest.

The disposition of the partition wall and branches of the inletpassages, 4, as above described, affords a straight and direct avenuefor the passage of water to the adjacent side cylinder, and diverts, tothe valve chest of said cylinder, by the action of inertia, such wateras may be mingled with the incoming steam passing to the middlecylinder. To further facilitate the easier passage of such water to theside cylinder, an upper end portion, 4, which is curved or inc inedtowards the passa e, 4, may be formed on the pariti'tisrl will, 4%

I claim as my invention and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

1. In a locomotive, the combination of a middle and two sidecylinders;distribution valve chests, each communicating with one of saidcylinders; a steam inlet passage, divided into two branches, leadingindependently to the valve chests of the middle, and of one of the sidecylinders; means,

7 located in said steam inlet passage, for atfording freer passage ofwater to the side than to the middle valve chestand an independentsteain inlet passage, leading to the distribution valve chest oftheother side cylinder.

2. In alocomotive, the combination of a middle and two side cylinders;distribution valve chests, each conimunimiting with one of saidcylinders; a steam inlet passage; a partition wall, located in saidpassage, out o'fhline with adiamet-ral plane oi" its inlet opening, anddividing itinto two branches,

one in line with said diametral plane, and leading to the distributionvalve chest of one of the side cylinders, and the other oilset from saiddiametral plane' 'and' leading to the distribution valve chest of themiddle cylinder; and an independent steam inlet passage, leading to thedistribution valve chest of the other side cylinder.

3. In a locomotive, the combination of a middle and two side cylinders;distribution valve chests, each communicating with one of saidcylinders; a steam inlet passage; a partition wall, located in saidpassage, out of line with a dialnetral plane of its inlet opening, anddividing it into two branches, one in line with said diametral plane,and leading to the distribution valve chest of one of the sidecylinders, and the other HARRY S. BURNHAli I.

